USA > Missouri > Pettis County > The History of Pettis County, Missouri, including an authentic history of Sedalia, other towns and townships, together with biographical sketches > Part 113
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terian Church, (O. S.,) when he was twenty-three years old, but for the past twenty-eight years has been a member of the M. E. Church, South, to which all his family, with one exception, also belong. The aged father has ceased farming. The care of his large and well improved farm devolves upon his son, Jno. G. Huston.
JNO. W. IRELAND.
Proprietor of meat market, Green Ridge, Mo. The birth place of Mr. Ireland was Fulton County, Ill., and the date March 11, 1844. When two years old his father and family removed to Hancock County, same State, where our sketch finds him at the age of fourteen, having been raised on a farm there, and receiving a good preparatory education. In 1858 he was again journeying towards a "better country," and his father located that year at Smithton, Pettis County; about two years later removed to Green Ridge. His father, who had come here primarily for his health, died at the latter place in 1860. After a varied and hard experience Jno. W. Ireland joined the State Guards, called out by Gov. Jackson, in the latter part of 1861, and in the fall of 1862 he united his fortunes with the regular Confederate army, under Gen. Price, being a sharp-shooter in the Ninth Battalion of Infantry, under Maj. L. A. Pindle. He followed Price in all his campaigns. In June, 1865, his battalion held the position of post guards at Shreveport, La., until they were relieved by the United States forces, being the last body of Confederates that surrendered in good military order in the west. He then returned to Pettis County, and engaged in farming and threshing in Flat Creek Township. He was in the threshing business for several years. A short time after his return he established his resi- dence in Green Ridge. Mr. Ireland was married April 18, 1876, to Miss Anna Melvin, daughter of Benjamin Melvin, and one child is the fruit of this union, Nellie H. Since the incorporation of Green Ridge he has been Town Marshal, and has won for himself both friends and honors by his energetic and upright deportment, both as a business man and an officer.
JOHN LANEY.
Born in the town of Banwell, Somersetshire, England, in the year 1826. He passed his life on English soil with his father, Samuel Laney, as a farmer boy, until 1845, when, seeing the superior advantages of the laboring classes in the United States of America as compared with those of his native country, he embarked for the new world and located in the State of New York, working at the carpenter trade in Seneca Falls, Seneca County, for some time. We see himat the carpenter's bench afterwards in Syracuse, N. Y., Kingston, Canada West, Oswego, N. Y., and Buffalo, N. Y., removing from the latter place in 1849, to Waterloo, N. Y., where he also followed his trade. The same year, 1849, he returned to England
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on a visit to relatives, and while there was married to Miss Mary Price, a native of Banwell, England, the ceremony taking place at St. Mary's Rectory Church, in Bristol. The happy pair returned to America, and were blessed with four children: Francis M., Georgia A., John P. and Mary C. His wife died at Waterloo, N. Y., in September, 1858. Mr. L. was again united in matrimony in 1859, with Miss Lucinda Lawrence, a native of Canada, having been born near Kingston. During the years of 1866 and 1867, having left his family at Waterloo, Mr. Laney was engaged in the oil refining business in Pennsylvania. In 1868, with his family, he came to Missouri, locating on his present farm near Green Ridge. It is one of the best improved farms in Pettis County, with ele- gant and ample buildings, good fences and beautiful trees and shrubbery. There are 240 acres in cultivation. His orchard contains twenty acres, comprising 1,220 trees of the best varieties adapted to the climate. Most of them are bearing, and fruit-buyers will find there the finest, largest and most abundant fruit crop, perhaps, on any farm in the county. Mr. Laney is justly proud of his orchard, and devotes much time and skillful labor to protect it from insects and drouth. He also pays some attention to raising cattle, horses, sheep and hogs. In the yard which surrounds his beautiful residence are a number of evergreens, also an English royal oak, planted in 1877, and a number of white pines, brought from the forests of Pennsylvania. Mr. Laney is a careful, prosperous farmer, and a most amiable and much respected gentleman.
C. W. LEABO, M. D.
Green Ridge, Mo. After a short residence in Green Ridge, this skillful young physician has secured a liberal and extensive practice. He was born in Brazil, Clay County, Ind., in 1853, and received his preparatory education there. He removed to Tipton, Moniteau County, in April, 1865, where he resided until 1875. The Doctor began the study of med- icine with his father, Dr. I. S. Leabo, a graduate of the old Cincinnati Medical College, and afterward attended the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis in 1874, 1875 and 1876, graduating the last named year. He also attended a course of lectures in St. Louis in 1880. His practice was inaugurated at Cole Camp, Linn County, in 1876, where he continued until August, 1877, when he removed to Green Ridge. He was married Oct. 17, 1877, to Miss Sallie E. Heard, a native of Boonville, who died in Boonville, June 29, 1880, leaving one child, Roy H., who is still living. Charles Leon died in 1878.
THOMAS LLEWELLYN.
Mr. Llewellyn was born Dec. 15, 1830, in Switzerland County, Ind., and 54
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HISTORY OF GREEN RIDGE TOWNSHIP.
until he was fourteen years of age lived there upon a farm; then going with his father to Carroll County, Ky., where he farmed until 1869. He was married Oct. 18, 1851, in the latter county and State, to Miss Naomi Jacobs, a native of Scott County, Ky., and two children have resulted from this union: Winfield S., now living with his parents, and Jonathan W., who died at the age of five years, ten months and fifteen days, in the year 1858. He volunteered in 1864 to serve his country, and was put under the command of Gen. Buckley, but on account of physical incapacity was compelled to leave the army three weeks after. He had been drafted before but was declared exempt from military duty by the examining phy- sician. Mr. Llewellyn came to Missouri in 1869, and located in the same neighborhood where he now resides. In addition to raising corn and wheat, and constantly improving his fine farm, he buys and feeds cattle, hogs and horses, being liberal both in his purchases and sales. Himself and wife have long been devoted members of the Christian Church at Windsor, and are universally respected for their christian character and kind neighborly acts.
FRANCIS A. LOGAN.
General merchandizing, Green Ridge, Mo. The subject of this sketch was born in Shelby County, Ky., Aug. 8, 1840. His education was obtained in Trimble County, Ky., to which his family removed when Mr. Logan was quite young, and followed the occupation of farming. He went thence to Illinois in 1857, where he remained until 1871, merchan- dizing. Mr. Logan was married in Shelby County, Ill., June 7, 1866, to Miss Linnie Gaddis, of said county. As the fruit of this marriage there are six children living: Emma, James C., William F., N. May, Mary E. and Rosa G., and one dead, Dora J., who died in this State. He came to Pettis County in 1871, and bought and operated a farm, three miles south of Green Ridge. Shortly afterwards he went into the mercantile business in that village, and his business has steadily increased until it is now in a very flattering and promising condition. Mr. Logan holds the office of deacon, treasurer and clerk in the Christian Church at Green Ridge, and has gained esteem from all for his honorable and upright life.
JAMES McCAMPBELL.
The subject of this sketch was born in Preble County, Ohio, near Lewisburg, November 11, 1843, where he was raised until fourteen years of age, attending school and working on a farm. At that age he went to La Salle County, Ill., near Ottawa, where he farmed from 1857 to Aug- ust, 1861, with his father. At the latter date he enlisted in the Thirty- Third Illinois Infantry, Col. C. E. Hovey, then principal of the Nor- mal School near Bloomington, commanding. With this regiment, which
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HISTORY OF GREEN RIDGE TOWNSIIIP.
was under Steel and Curtis in Missouri, McClernand in Mississippi, A. J. Smith in Louisiana, C. C. Washburne in Texas, and under the immediate command of Gen. Osterhaus, who had charge of the department of Vicks- burg until December, 1865, Mr. McCampbell went in its long campaigns, frequent marches, and terrible fighting, until it was mustered out of service at Yazoo City, Mississippi, in 1865. Returning to Illinois he resumed his former quiet and happy farm life, and in March, 1867, was married to Miss Maaura Wadleigh, a native of New Hampshire. Their home receiving its complement of joy in the birth of three children: Harrison, Randolph and Roy. In 1870 Mr. McCampbell removed with his family to his present residence, where he has productive soil and good neighbors all around him, in Green Ridge Township, Pettis County, and devotes his energies to the cultivation of the soil and sheep culture.
ROBERT D. MEANS.
Mr. Means and his father were the earliest settlers in Green Ridge Township. He was born in Howard County, Mo., June 13, 1823, and raised there until nine years of age. Nov. 4, 1832, he was brought by his father, to his future home in Green Ridge Township, Pettis County, Mo.
It was in this home that he acquired an excel- lent education by means of the very poor educational facilities and his personal efforts. He carried the flag for the government surveyors in sections forty-three and forty-four of his township when a boy. During the Mexican war he volunteered for service twice, but the required num- ber of troops reported at Independence, Mo., and he was left out. His father commanded a company of minute men with a captain's commission, during the war of 1812, and his maternal grandfather, Wm. McDonald, was a lieutenant in the command of the celebrated Marion in the Revolu- tionary war. Mr. Means, the subject of our sketch, was married Aug. 31, 1843, in Johnson County, Mo., to Miss Juliet Cooper, daughter of David Cooper, who was one of Johnson's first inhabitants, having settled at an early day at the head of Muddy Creek. She died, May 29, 1847, near Windsor, but in Pettis County, leaving two children: William H., who was killed on the Saline River, in Arkansas, while in the Confederate army, in 1864; and James W., who is married and residing at Los Angeles City, California, being a minister of the M. E. Church, South. Her remains were interred in Cooper cemetery, in Johnson County. Wm. M. was again married July 5, 1848, to Miss Susan E. Tindall, a native of Kentucky. The father and mother of his last wife both died at Trenton, Grundy County, Mo. Both of his wives were acquainted with his father's family in Kentucky, living in the same neighborhood. A brother of his last wife, Col. J. T. Tindall, killed at the battle of Shiloh, was a member of the Missouri convention called by Gov. C. F. Jackson, in 1861, to dis-
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HISTORY OF GREEN RIDGE TOWNSHIP.
cuss the propriety of seceding. He had formerly represented Grundy County, in the State Senate; had enlisted as a private in the Mexican war, and was soon promoted to the rank of major on Gilpin's staff; and at the time of his death was colonel of the 23d Missouri Regiment in the army of General U. S. Grant. It was the brilliant dash of this Missouri regi- ment, led by their daring colonel, that saved Grant from a disastrous defeat at Shiloh, but at the dear sacrifice of the lives of Col. Tindall and all his regiment except forty. A. monument has been erected to his mem- ory at a cost of $10,000, the government having appropriated $5,000, and the citizens $5,000. Robt. D. Means, the subject of our sketch, took his family in 1859 to the vicinity of Macon City, Mo., for the purpose of edu- cating his children at McGee College. He then kept a boarding house for females only. His children by his last wife were as follows: Eugenia F., wife of M. E. Carpenter, of Windsor; Susan A. wife of Geo. W. Tryon, cashier of the Savings Bank at Windsor, Mo .; Mary E., wife of L. N. Craig, of Maryville, Nodaway County, Mo .; Robt. L., married and living in Henry County, Mo., and Edward W., residing with his parents; he has been for sometime past the first E flat player in the Windsor Cornet Band. There are three dead: Augusta L., who was killed with laudanum by a negro nurse, when three years old; Edward T., who died at the age of fourteen in 1864, of spinal menin- getis; and Lola M., who died Aug. 12, 1870. Mr. Means returned from the vicinity of McGee College in 1861. He entered the Federal service in the fall of 1863, and was connected with the Missouri State Militia, his regiment being known at first as the Old Sixtieth, then as provisional, and again as the Sixtieth. Col. Henry commanded the last Sixtieth. Mr. M. was elected captain of company C., organized in his neighbor- hood, but as originally organized it did not go into service. He again joined the same company re-organized in 1862, with Judge Geo. Gallaher as captain, which was stationed at Calhoun and Ft. Lyon principally. He was in several skirmishes with the guerrillas, and was mustered out of service at Ft. Lyon, in Benton County, Mo., in 1865, and returned to his farm. . Mr. Means has been justice of the peace with a few short intervals for the past thirty years, and is known everywhere as "Squire Bob." During the organization of the township, he was a member of the town- ship board. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which body he has been an elder since he was twenty-four years of age. His wife is also a member. Mr. M. is a prosperous farmer, and his decisions as justice of the peace are an evidence of considerable legal learning and judicial capacity.
BENJAMIN MELVIN.
No man in Green Ridge Township has been more conspicuous since its
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early settlement, in business and social relations, than Mr. Benjamin Mel- vin, and he deserves such mention as his probity and virtue plainly have indicated and received from all his acquaintances. He was born in Jef- ferson County, Va., Dec. 29, 1807, and was there raised and educated. He began life as a carpenter and cabinet maker, and afterwards engaged in the mercantile business. He was married in Loudoun County, Va., Jan. 16, 1834, to Miss Isabella Cockrell, daughter of Joseph Cockrell, residing in that locality. A large family, consisting of nine children, has resulted from this union. Their names are: Thomas J., William H., Benjamin F., John D., Mary I., Ellen F., Virginia C., Ann E. and Phœbe A., and there is one dead, Laura J. Mr. Melvin went to Ohio in the fall of 1835, and engaged in farming. In 1854 he started for Missouri, and the same year rented land in Cooper County, but he finally settled down in Pettis County, in the town of Green Ridge. Until recently his occupation has been clerking. He now has charge of and owns a small confectionery store in the post-office building, which he constructed, and is deputy postmaster, under Mr. E. C. Havely.
JAMES F. MITCHELL.
He was born in Caldwell County, Ky., Jan. 5, 1827, where he grew to maturity. He grew up on a farm, and in 1845, being a vigorous young man of eighteen, he volunteered for service under General Winfield Scott, in the Mexican War. He belonged to Company G., Captain Conn, and his superior officers were, respectively: Major Ward, Lieutenant Colonel Preston, Colonel Williams, and Brigadier General Marshall. The Regiment was known as the Fourth Kentucky Infantry. Mr. Mitchell went out in response to the last call for troops, and consequently saw no active service in the field, the City of Mexico having capitulated, and peace soon after following. He returned to Kentucky in 1848, and farmed the following year with his father, Cader Mitchell, a soldier of 1812. In 1850 he came west, through Missouri and other States, looking at the country, and the same year went to school in Hickory County, this State, for six months, which completed his education. Filled with the spirit of adventure he went to New Mexico in 1851, where he remained a little more than six months, teaming with six and seven yoke of cattle over that rough country, at a salary of from $20 to $30 per month, and at the end of that time returned to Kentucky. But the same old love of adven- ture induced him, in 1852, to proceed to Springfield, Mo., which was then in Green County; the county name now being Webster, where he obtained an outfit for roughing it in California, to which State he slowly wended his way. His occupation there was mining, and he searched long and industriously in the shoal diggings, flats and rivers for gold, with very satisfactory remuneration. He returned to Kentucky in June, 1858, with
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$7,700, having left behind him a large amount loaned out, and lost by gambling and speculation about $4,000. He now regards the last named as the greatest error of his life. Mr. Mitchell labored with his father on the Kentucky farm until 1860, when, having in 1850 entered 160 acres of land in Green Ridge Township, Pettis County, Mo., as the bounty allowed by the Government to the Mexican soldiers in addition to their small pay of eight dollars per month, he located upon the same, and immediately began to improve it. Here he has lived since, following peaceful agriculture through the long civil war. But at midnight of May 16, 1863, Mr. Mitchell was taken to the timber adjacent to his house by four men in Federal uniforms, who requested him to tell where his horses were, and were told that they were out in his pasture grazing. Appar- ently in doubt, at the suggestion of Mr. M., his negro boy was called for, and made the same statement. They had been in still greater doubt about his veracity before this, having tormented him for more than an hour by means of a rope adjusted by a noose to his neck and drawn frequently over the limb of a tree. Mr. M. was saved by the negro's testimony. He has always lived in bachelor style; has served as road overseer for one year, and has added to his California fortune since he occupied his present farm by handling stock, chiefly. The varieties consisting of cattle, horses, hogs and mules, which he buys, feeds and sells. Mr. Mitchell is much respected in his neighborhood for his generosity to the poor, who never ask of him in vain, and he impresses every one favorably with his frank and affable manners.
ROBERT. A. MOFFETT.
The subject of this sketch was born in Shelby County, Mo., in 1837, where he passed his childhood on a farm and received his education at the schools of the neighborhood. He was married in August, 1859, to Miss Mary E. King, a native of Trimble County, Ky., who died in the summer of 1864, leaving two children, Lucy A. and Ernest K. He was again married in 1865 to Miss Martha A. Taylor, a native of Carroll County, Ky., by whom he has three children: Wm. W., Ivanilla and Walter S. Mr. Moffett came to Henry County, Mo., in 1876, and farmed there two years, removing in 1878 to his present residence in Green Ridge Town- ship, Pettis County, Mo.
JAMES F. NICHOLS.
This gentleman was born three miles northwest of Green Ridge, and received his education and farm training in the same locality. At the breaking out of the civil strife he united with Gen. Sterling Price's army, with which he fought in the battle of Pea Ridge. Afterwards, under Beauregard, he participated in the first and second battles of Cornith, and
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was with Pemberton in the seige and surrender of Vicksburg. At Pea Ridge he was wounded slightly in the left arm. Mr. Nichols states that there are several inaccuracies in the history of the late war, and pointed out the following as cases within his certain knowledge: Col. Reeves, of the Third Missouri Regiment, C. S. A., was killed at Pea Ridge; Gen. Jno. A. Bowen was killed at Port Gibson in May, 1863; which battle was fought on the 19th, 20th and 23d. Martin Green and Little were killed at Iuka. Mr. Nichols was captured May 16, 1863, at Big Black Bayou, and confined in prison seven months; after which he was paroled one month, then exchanged, and entered Slidell's command. He was again captured at Fort Blakely, opposite Mobile, April 9, 1865, and detained as a prisoner of war at Ship Island, in the Gulf of Mexico, until he obtained his parole May 5, 1865. He then returned home. January 6, 1869, he was married to Miss Sarah J. McGee, a native of Moniteau County, Mo. They have three children: Viola B., Iva F. and Ernest J. Mr. Nichols has been engaged in farming and stock culture for some time past, in which lines he now enjoys the advantages of a large and varied experi- ence.
CHARLES W. NICHOLS.
Blacksmithing and repairing. Green Ridge, Mo. The son of one of the oldest settlers, Wilson Nichols, deceased. Was born May 9, 1854. He received his education and has worked at the blacksmith trade for eleven years past in his native place, which speaks loudly in his favor. He does all kinds of blacksmithing and repairing on liberal terms. Also is very well acquainted with wood work, and has a large number of patrons.
JAMES S. REAM.
Was born March 4, 1847, in Pettis County, near the present site of Sedalia, and was raised and educated in his native county. He was mar- ried in 1866, near Green Ridge, to Miss Ellen F. Melvin, who was born April 6, 1847, daughter of Mr. Benj. Melvin, the present Deputy Postmaster of the village of Green Ridge. They have three children living: James E., aged sixteen; Maud A., aged eleven; Frederick E., aged eight; and Minnie F., born March 12, 1869, died in infancy. Mr.Ream located in the village of Green Ridge ten years ago, and engaged in the drug business, and has, by industry and application to his chosen profession built up a large and flourishing trade. By his affable and courteous manner he is a man who will always make friends, and as a business man, whose sense of honor is keen and whose judgment is far seeing, he has few superiors. He engages in the grain and stock business extensively, and buys and ships annually large amounts of wheat, corn, hay and hogs. He has been Notary Public for four years. In the spring of 1882, while having a
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well sunk on his premises, valuable mineral water was discovered, and Mr. Ream is making every effort to have it fully developed, and make his village one of the numerous pleasure and health resorts of the State. The analysis of the water of the well by Juan H. Wright, of St. Louis, shows that it contains: Carbonic acid, sulphated magnesia, iron, potassa, chloride sodium, magnesia, carbonate lime, silica and organic matter.
HIAL B. REED.
Mr. Reed was born in Ontario County, N. Y., Oct. 1, 1816, where he was raised on a farm and lived until 1868. He was married Jan. 20, 1846, to Miss Sarah McArthur, a native of Albany, N. Y., and this union was blessed with four children: Helen, Frank B., Nathan B. and Harriet. The oldest daughter is the wife of Wm. Manville, of Green Ridge, and the youngest is the wife of Mr. Geo. N. Farr, a resident of Green Ridge Township. Mr. Reed farmed in Ontario County, N. Y., until 1868, when he went to Knox County, Ill., farming there about one year; he then returned to Seneca County, N. Y., adjoining Ontario County, where he farmed until his removal to Missouri in 1878, when he located at his present residence. Physical disability prevents him from personally attending to the affairs of the farm, and his two sons faith fully discharge that duty.
DAVID N. RHOADS.
The subject of this sketch was born in Bartholomew County, Ind., in 1849, and was there raised and educated, and there served an apprentice- ship to the plow business. He was married in 1873 to Miss Mary J. Smith, a native of said county and State, and three children have resulted from this union: Pink, Phillip W. and David C. Mr. Rhoads came to Missouri, locating in Pettis County, in October, 1874, and lived near Lamonte. He moved to his present home in September, 1881. While in Indiana he served as constable for the township in Bartholomew County, in which he resided. Though young, he has a bright future.
J. FRANK TOMLIN.
Farmer and stock dealer. He was born Oct. 1, 1841, in Goshen, Cape May County, N. J., where he was reared. He was educated at Union College, at Shiloh, New Jersey. After leaving school he was engaged in farming until the spring of 1862, when he enlisted in Company I, Twenty- fifth New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, and was commissioned First Lieu- tenant in August, 1862, serving with honor in said capacity till March 20, 1863, when he was promoted to Captain. He was mustered out of service by expiration of term of service, June 6, 1863. After returning to his home he raised a company, and Jan. 4, 1864, he went out as Second
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